8th International Congress on Science and Technology of Ironmaking - ICSTI 2018

The steps from data to information to knowledge and finally standardized operation for the blast furnace are put into the overall picture of digitalization in the ironmaking area. By introduction of expert systems individual judgement of process conditions and required actions receive support by rule based decision systems with an incorporated, standardized operation strategy that has been jointly elaborated for the individual furnace. As the expert system contains the key operational strategy it mirrors central operational know how that can be adjusted and extended based on the gain of further insight, meeting the specific risk mitigation requirements and operational targets. By model supported analysis of the operational condition an early detection of undesired deviations allow to go closer to the operational limits – but still run the furnace in the safe range. By this, improved results regarding BF performance, fuel rates and operational stability can be achieved. The paper shows practical examples of critical operational conditions of the blast furnace and the corrective actions automatically suggested and executed by the expert system. Finally, we outline the possibilities of project specific extensions of the expert system to adjust it to specific operational requirements.